Slide fastener



Jan. 5, 1943. L.. w. scHAAl-F SLIDE FASTENER Filed Aug. 7, 1941l////////// l l o/s 14'( SCHAAFF Patented Jan. 5,1943

2,307,711 l l r SLIDE FASTENER Louis W. Schaan', Jackson Heights, N. Y.,assiglior` to Waldes Koh-I-Noo Inc.,

Long Island City,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 7,` 1941, Serial No.405,857

12 claims.

This invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners, and in itsmore specific aspects, to improvements in sliders therefor and in theconstruction and mode ofsecurement of the pull tabs for operating thesame.

Considered generally, sliders as heretofore constructed employ for theiroperation pull tabs of rigid metallic construction which are secured tothe slider by a rivet or like securing means whose head protrudes asubstantial distance from the front face of the slider body, or which isotherwise provided with a hook-like extension also projecting out of theplane of the slider front face. Obviously, such securing means add tothe overall depth and bulk of the slider body, and moreover, pull tabsof the stated character in many cases are bent or deformed in use to adegree impairing if not destroying` their usefulness. Where the priorsliders employed pull tabs of a iiexible nature such as chains or fabrictapes, their securement to the slider body generally followed the samemode of `securement characterizing pull tabs of the rigid metallic type,with the disadvantages attendant to thelatter.

The present invention contemplates and aims to provide a novel andimproved slider -and pull tab assembly employing ailexible type pull tabwhich'overcomes the above-noted disadvantages of the prior devices,while at the same time providing la slider assembly of minimum overalldepth which can be readily manufactured and assembled in quantity,practical and eective in operation, which requires as its fasteningother rivet head formation extending from the plane of the front face ofthe slider body, and

means no hook-like or which is commercially" which in additionincorporates an effective mode A of securing the pull tab to the sliderbody.

The invention also has for a major object the provision of a novelslider construction which lends itself admirably to the use of pull tabsof iiexible nature, and also to pull tabs which may be operated fromeither side of the sliderl when the fastener is applied to reversiblegarments and .which further of itself represents an advance andimprovement in slider body construction and design.

Moreover, the slider and pull tab construction of the present inventionis one of pleasing design and appearance, and is of the characterp'ermitting a high order of embellishment not possible with sliders ofknown construction.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout in connection with on the other hand the following analysisv of thisinvention wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the inventionl indetail.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a plan view-of fastener employing asliderwhich incorporates the improvements of the present invention.v

Fig. 2 is a partsection through the slider illustrated in Fig.-V 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal 3 3 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is a part sectional view through aslider employing a modied formof pull tab.

Fig. 5 is a section view, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modifiedform of`slider construction.

Figs. 6 and 'I are respectively front and side views of a modifiedformofslider and pull tab assembly in accordano tion. i

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout` the several views, reference characters |0, Il`designate conventional fastener-elements arf ranged in row formationalongthe edges of opposed stringers I2, I3, the latter being in turn"secured along the edges of an openingfina garment or like article whichis yadapted to be closed upon interlocking of meshing of the elements,and to be opened upon disengagement of the elements. As is well knownthe fastener elements are adapted to be interlocked and diseng4r gagedby a slider S which embraces the elements and which operates, when movedin one direction, generally upwardly, to progressivelyforce the elementsinto kinterlocking engagement,` and when moved in the oppositedownwardly, to progressively disengage the elements.

The slider S .which incorporates the improvements of the presentinvention is shown to have 1 i the general form and mode ofoperationofthe 1 slider disclosed in my copending application Se f rialNo.'395,479, filedy May 2'7, 1941, insofaras the self-locking featuresof ,the latterandits l ability to dispose the rows of disengagedfastener elements parallel yupon their exit from the head openingprovided therefor, is concerned. However, it is tol be clearlylunderstood that .the present invention is not disclosed in my priorapplication aforesaid but is applicable of the so-called standard videdwith a Y.shaped race for the fastener elements and which in operationdisposethe disengaged fastener elements fanwtse.

NT orifice i a portion of a slide view taken vertically section takenalongwline with the 'present inven- "direction, generally c limited tosliders of 'the form f l as well tosliders design which are'pro- Asillustrated, the slider body S is constituted by front and rear platesI5, I6 each having marginal side flanges I1, I8, and an ellipticallyshaped divider or separator for the fastener elements generallydesignated 20, the latter being disposed well within the slider body andat or near the geometric center thereof. The slider body is providedwitha top or head opening for ,the entry and exit of disengagedV elementsand with a bottom or tail opening for Ythe entry and relate to theconstruction of the divider 20 and to the manner of securing a pull tabin the nature of a exible cord, thong tape or the like thereto.Referring yparticularly to Figs. 2 and 3,wherein the improved dividerconstruction is illustrated, one of the slider plates, such as the rearor under plate I6, has `integrally formed thereon as by a die-.formingoperation an elliptical divider section 20a having a base portion 2lterminating in aninwardly directed'abutment shoulder 22, and asleeve-like extension 23 which projects -relatively upwardly from thebase portion 2|. The heightofthe baseportion is one-half that of thecomplete divider, the height of the sleeve portion being somewhatgreater' than the height of the base portion for the purpose to bedescribed.

'I'he divider section 20a as constituted by the y base and sleeveportions 2|, 23 thereof is formed witha through bore lor aperture which`may be of circular or of substantially circular section, the

lrelative turning of the plates.

aperture. widening out at its end adjacent 4the f rear.plate .I6 alongav gentle curvature, thus to provide a curved seat or vbearing to behereinafter referred to. l

The related front plate I5 carries a'n integral divider section 20h voi!height half that required forthe complete divider, such' beingpreferably die-formed therein to extend from `the underface of theplate. Divider section 20h is provided with a bore or opening, the innerend of which is of a size and interior formation as to snugly receivethe sleeve portion `23 of the companion divider section 20a, the outerend of said opening being enlarged along a gradual curvature,

In assembly, the divider section 20h is threaded or telescoped on to thesleeve extension 23 of divider section 20a, and the plates I5, I6 areforced relatively towards each oth'er until the end face of` dividersection 20h abutsA against and seats on shoulder 22. With thepartsassembledk as aforesaid, the slider plates are spaced apredetermineed distance as required. Due to the sleeve extension 23being formed long, its end projects, slightly beyond the face of 'theouter plate I5. Thereuponthi's projecting end is deformed or .upset tora. degree causing it to bear tightly on the curved, enlarged end of thethrough opening of divider section 20h. The

slider body and plates I5, I6 are securely held in properly spacedrelation as is required.

Upon the assembly aforesaid, the divider sections cooperate to provide atubular divider in which the bores or openings of the divider sectionsform an opening through the slider. Moreover, by reason of thedisposition of the divider sections at the approximate geometric centerof the slider plates, the assembled slider body is substantiallycrush-proof to pressures that tend to crush or impair the utility ofsliders of conventional construction.

Preferably, the outer face of each slider plate is countersunksimultaneously with the formation of its dividersection, to provide acircular recess 26 disposed Labout but on the other side of the platefrom the divider section carried thereby. Thisrecessing of `theplates,in conjunction with the enlargement of the divider section boresadjacent the relativelyouter ends thereof, provide substantial spaceinwardly of thel outer plane of the slider plates for the` accommodationof lthe pull tab end or the securing means therefor.

With the construction so far described, it will be seen that the slideris rivetless in the sense that no separate rivet, isemployed to securethe front and rear plates of the slider in their required spacedparallel relation. Moreover, the divider itself provides the sole meansfor securingthe plates in properly spaced relation and, by reason of itsconstruction andrnon-circular cross-sectional shape, also'functions toprevent This rivetless construction makes for extreme thinness of sliderbody and due to the absence of any protruding head or equivalent meansfor securing the slider plates together results in a slider causing no'appreciable bulging `when worn on either outer or inner garments.

The slider body construction as described lends itself admirably to thesecuring of pull means thereto, particularly when such means are of thepull cord type, which by reason of their flexibility permit the sliderto slide without they customary twisting friction characterizingstandard pull tabs of rigid construction; Referring to Fig. 2, the pullcord 28 there shown is of the flexible type,'being woven from textilestrands or being in the form of a leather thong, or being fashioned fromplasticvmaterial.l One end of the flexible pull cord is threaded throughthe openended bore of divider section 20a, and its termi nal 4end may'be knotted butxis vpreferably enclosed within a bead 30 of diameterlarger than the through bore. By reason of the countersinking of therear plate and the enlargement of the end .of the cord receiving boreadjacent thereto, vthe bead 30 normally seats against the Y curved seatformed at the relatively inner end-of feo extra length of the sleeveextension 2 3 is taken up in `the upsetting or riveting-over operation,so that following final assembly, the sleeve is wholly confined. withinthe front and rear planes of the the bore and hence -the bead does notprotrude out of the plane of therear face of the slider, but on theother hand is `accommodated within the space provided by thecountersinking and enlargement of thebOre-end. The other end of the pullcord 28 may be provided with a bead 32 of relatively greater diameter,which is readily grippable for moving the slider in either directionalong the rows of fastener elements.

Referring to Fig. 4 wherein a modified form of pull cord isillustrated,'the pull cord 34 is of sufficient length as to extendequally from both faces of the slider, its intermediate portion beingdisposed within the bore of divider section 20a. The pull tab isprovided adjacent each' face of the slider with metallic rings or bands35, 36 'of Without further analysis, vit seen the .invention provides 'aslider; for lslide fasteners" diameter insuringl :that lthe `tab cannotlbe separated frornthe slider when pull is exerted on either end.

to reversible garments. Thus, bythe provision of a unitary pull tabhaving ends projecting from both faces of the slider, the latter may beactuated from either face of the garment,depending upon which side isdisposed outwardly. In Fig. there is illustrated another form of` slideremploying a modified construction ofv di-Y vider functioning as a spacerfor the slider plates. Such a slider is constituted by spaced plates 40,4I of identical construction, the outer faces thereof being eachprovided with a countersunk recess 42 of circular formation, each recessbeing pierced to provide an elliptical aperture. A separately formedelliptical divider (and spacer) element 43 is adapted to extend betweenthe plates. the ends being undercut as at 44 to provide shoulders whichare spaced slightly from the end edges thereof. With the divider elementbeing extended a slight distance beyond the ends of the shoulders 44,the extending end portions are adapted for deformationv during assembly.In the assembly operation, the slider plates 40, 4I are threaded overthe deformable ends of the divider 43 until they bear against the endshoulders 44, and thereupon the extending ends are upset or riveted overin the manner shown to secure the plates 40, 4I in their spaced parallelrelation as is required. It is noted that the ends of the divider upontheir upsetting seat in the countersunk recesses 42 and thus do not thebeaded end of the pull cord is appropriately accommodated so that itssecuring bead or equivaient is disposed within the planes of slider.

Referring to the further modification illus-l trated in Figs. 6 and 7,the divider there illustrated may be of the sectional characterillustrated in my copending application aforesaid and inGOrp'oratingV`effective 'and .practical -"means for securing the sliderfplates intheirspaced parallelrv relation, and that vthis vconstruction, lendsitself admirablyl to the securingofgpullltabs of the flexible type tothe sliderboiy.A ,Moreoven slid,- ers constructedin. accordance kwiththe invention` .have minimum thinness and overall bulk by. .10"

reason of the fact .that theslider v.ls..devoid of any rivety or Jrivethead lwhich protrudesfsub-I stantially. fromthe",l ,uppery lor .lindenyfaces of the slider body. Hence, not only .a sliderof extreme thinnessis provided, butfalsdnov appreciable bulging of garments disposedoverthehgarmrent.

fastened by sliders -of the presentinvention can result. k i

Moreover, the present invention provides a double-sided unitarypull tabfor a reversible slider which can be used with reversible garments andthus represents adistinct advance in the art lof sliders adapted yforreversible use.

As will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 6, .for example, the slider` of thepresent invention is of pleasing design and appearance, andprovides inaddition substantial face area for embellishment employs a securingrivet extending through the divider half sections which operates tosecure the slider plates 5|, 52 in spaced parallel relation.

y The head 53 of the rivet 50 is adapted to seat in a circular recess 54countersunk into the front `fate of one slider plate 52', theccuntersinking in the modified form of the invention under descriptionbeing appreciable so as to provide a relatively deep recess for therivet head.

By reference particularly to Fig. 6, the rivet head 53 is in the natureof an elongated ridge, the outer surface of which extends along acurvature, whereby only the mid portion of the head extends out of theplane of the upper or front face of the slider.` The head is` providedwith a transverse opening for the reception of a pull tab 55 of ribbonor tape-like form, preferably of textile material, which is threadedthrough the rivet opening and fastened to the rivet head by a ring orclip 55. The color of the ribbon-like pull tab may be matched with thecolor of the garment to which the fastener is applied, and hence aslider and pull tab assembly having'an attractive and pleasingappearance is provided.

when and if such is desired. y

As many changes could be madeinl carrying out the above constructionswithout. departing from the scope of' the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description, or shown intheaccompanying drawingr shall be interpreted as illustrative and` notin a limiting sense. l

I claim: f

l. A two-part slider 4for slide fasteners comprising front and rearplates having marginal side flanges, one of said plates being providedwith an integral divider-section comprising a body portion terminatingin an abutment shoulder and an extension projecting relatively upwardlytherefrom, the other plate being lprovided with an integral dividersection disposed about said extension in centinuationpof saidbodyportion and forming with the latter a full depth divider, thel end ofthe lastnamed divider section abutting said shoulder an'd the end of theexten-` sion providing means operatively securing the divider sectionsone to the other. and the plates in spaced parallel relation, .wherebysaid plates with their side flanges andthe divider provide'a race forthe engaged and disengaged elements.

2. A two-part slider for slide fasteners vvcornprising front and rearplates having marginal side flanges, one of said plates beingv providedwith an integral divider section comprising a body portion terminatingin an abutment shoulder and a sleeve-like extension projectingrelatively above said shoulder, said body portion and extension beingprovided with a through opening. the other plate being provided with anintegral divider section disposed about said extension 'in` continuationof said body portion and forming with'the latter a full depth divider,the end -of the last-named divider section abutting said shoulder andthe 'end of the extension providing means-v oneratively securing thedivider sections one to the other and the plates in spaced parallelrelation, whereby the secured plates with their side flanges and thedivider form a race for the enn gaged and disengaged vfastener elements.

3. A slider for slide fasteners comprising front and rear plates havingmarginal side manges. the plates being each provided with anaperture, adivider adapted to extend between plates with its ends extending intothe plate apertures and being provided near each end thereof with ashoulder against which an adjacent platebears, the ends of the dividerbeyond said shoulders providing means operatively securing the platesagainst the shoulders andthe plates in spaced parallel relation,'whereby the plates, the side flanges thereof and the divider cooperateto form a race for the engaged and disengaged fastener elements.

4. A slider for slide fasteners comprising front and rear` plates havingmarginal side flanges, the plates being each provided with an aperture,a divider adapted to extend between plates with its ends extending intothe plate apertures and being provided near each end thereof with 'ashoulder against which an adjacent plate bears. the ends of the dividerAbeyond said shoulders providing means operatively securing the platesagainst the shoulders and the plates in spaced parallel relation,whereby the plates, the side anges' thereof and the divider cooperate toform a race for the engaged and `disengaged fastener elements, saiddivider being hollow to provide an opening through the slider for thereception of a pull tab kor the securing means therefor.

5. In a slider and pull tabassembly, a slider comprising separate frontand rear plates, a divider providing the solemeans for securing theplates inspaced parallel relation and against relative turningmovementand providing an kopening through the sliderwhich opening isenlarged at one end thereof to form a seat, a pull tab extending throughthe opening and having at one end thereof a bead adapted to engage saidseat andthereby to be disposedrelatively inwardly of the outer facel ofthe adjacent plate.

6. A slider for slide fasteners comprising separate front andrear'plates having marginal side flanges, a tube-like divider ofnon-circular 'crosssection disposed approximately alt the geometriccenter of said plates, said divider providing the sole means forconnecting, properly spacing and rate front and rear plates havingmarginal side Y flanges, a tube-like divider of noncircular crosssectiondisposed approximately at the ygeometric center of said plates, saiddivider providing the sole means for connecting, properly spacing and gprevent relative turning of said plates and forming with said plates andthe side flanges a race for the fastener elements, said dividerincluding a divider section integrally connected with one of saidplates, the opening through said divider being shaped to provide a pulltab bearing, and a flexible pull tab extending through said opening andhaving retaining means disposed substantially within the confines of therelatively outer faces of the plates.

8. A slider for slide fasteners comprising separate front and rearplates having marginal side flanges, a tube-like divider of non-circularcrosssection disposed approximately at the geometric center of saidplates, said divider providing the sole means for connecting, properlyspacing and prevent relative turning of said plates and form- 9. Aslider for slide fasteners comprising sepa-y rate front and rear plateshaving marginal side flanges, a tube-like divider of ellipticalcross-section disposed approximately at the geometric center of saidplates, for connecting, said divider providing the sole means properlyspacing andv preventing relative turning of said plates and forming withsaid plates and the side flanges a race vfor the fastener elements, theopening through said divider being shaped to providea pull tab bearing,and a flexible pull tab extending through said opening and havingretaining means disposed substantially within the confines of therelatively outer faces of the plates.

10. A slider for slide fasteners` comprising separate front and rearplates having marginal side flanges, a tube-like divider of ellipticalcross-section disposed approximately at the geometric center of saidplates, said divider providing the sole means for connecting, properlyspacing and prevent relative turning of said plates and forming withsaid plates and the side flanges a race' for thefastener elements, saiddivider having one end integral with one of said plates and its otherend countersunk in the other of said plates,A the opening through saiddivider being shaped to provide a pull tab bearing, and a flexible pulltab extending through said opening and having retaining means disposedsubstantially within the confines of the relatively outer faces of theplates.

11. A slider for slide fasteners comprising separate front and rearvplates having marginal side flanges, a tube-like divider of ellipticalcross-section disposed approximately at the geometric center of saidplates, said divider providing the sole means for connecting, properlyspacing and prevent relative turning of said plates and forming withsaid plates and the side flanges a race for the fastener elements, saiddivider having its opposite ends countersunk into said plates, the`opening throughsaid divider being shaped to provide a pull tab bearing,and a flexible pull tab extending through said opening and havingretaining means disposed substantially within the confines of therelatively outer faces of the plates.

12. A slider for slide fasteners comprising separate front and rearplates havingrnarginal side flanges, a tube-like divider of ellipticalcross-section disposed approximately at the geometric center of saidplates, said divider providing the sole means for connecting, properlyspacing and prevent relative turning of said plates and forming kwithsaid plates and the side flanges a race for the fastener elements, theopening through said divider being shaped to provide a pull tab bearing,andl a flexible pull tab extending through said opening and havingretaining means disposed substantially within the confines of therelatively outer faces of, the plates, said pull tab being disposed sothat its ends extend to both sides of the slider and said retainingmeans fixing it against endwise sliding movement through the divideropening.

' LOUIS W. SCHAAFF.

